Golf club

ABSTRACT

A golf club includes a shaft body, a head body connected to the shaft body, and a photochromic portion provided on at least one of the shaft body and the head body and including a photochromic blend. The photochromic blend is made by blending a coating material or a molding material with a photochromic material.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a golf club, more particularly to a golf clubhaving photochromic function.

2. Description of the Related Art

When purchasing a golf club, consumers may consider aesthetic andtextural aspects thereof in addition to normal functions. Therefore, itis desirable in the art to develop a golf club which includes a golfclub shaft or head having an improved appearance and texture.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a golf clubincluding at least one of a photochromic golf club shaft and aphotochromic golf club head.

In one aspect of this invention, a photochromic golf club shaft includesa shaft body, and a photochromic portion provided on the shaft body andincluding a photochromic blend.

In another aspect of this invention, a photochromic golf club headincludes a head body having a photochromic portion that includes aphotochromic blend.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent in the following detailed description of the preferredembodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of a golfclub according to this invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of the first preferredembodiment;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of a golfclub according to this invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a third preferred embodiment of a golfclub according to this invention;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of the third preferredembodiment; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a fourth preferred embodiment of a golfclub according to this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Before the present invention is described in greater detail, it shouldbe noted that like elements are denoted by the same reference numeralsthroughout the disclosure.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the first preferred embodiment of a golfclub according to this invention includes a photochromic golf club shaft1, and a golf club head 2 connected to the photochromic golf club shaft1. The photochromic golf club shaft 1 includes a shaft body 11, and aplurality of photochromic portions 12 provided on the shaft body 11 andincluding a photochromic blend. In this embodiment, the photochromicblend is made by blending a coating material with a photochromicmaterial. Each of the photochromic portions 12 is formed by applying thephotochromic blend on the shaft body 11 to form a coating layer on theshaft body 11. Alternatively, the photochromic blend can be applied onthe entire shaft body 11 to form a photochromic coating layer coveringthe entire shaft body 11.

Preferably, the coating material is ink or clear lacquer, and thephotochromic material is composed of photochromic powders having aparticle size of about 0.01 mm. The photochromic material changes fromtransparent to a color when it is exposed to visible or ultravioletlight, and reverses to transparency when it is not exposed to the light.

When the coating material is clear lacquer, a weight ratio of thephotochromic material to the coating material preferably ranges from1:1900 to 1:2100, and the photochromic portions 12 are formed by coatingthe photochromic blend on the shaft body 11. The photochromic portions12 can be a trademark pattern or any other patterns. When the coatingmaterial is ink, a weight ratio of the photochromic material to thecoating material preferably ranges from 1:4 to 1:1000, and thephotochromic portions 12 are formed by printing (e.g., transfer printingor screen printing) the photochromic blend on the shaft body 11 and bylaser engraving the photochromic blend printed on the shaft body 11.

The photochromic powders can be selected according to the desiredspecific photochromic color of the photochromic portions 12.Furthermore, different photochromic powders can be used in thephotochromic portions 12, if desired, so as to produce multiplephotochromic effects.

Referring to FIG. 3, the second preferred embodiment of a golf clubaccording to this invention is shown to be similar to the firstpreferred embodiment except that the photochromic blend includes amolding material and the photochromic material, and that thephotochromic portion 12 is a preform sleeved on a grip portion 111 ofthe shaft body 11. Preferably, the molding material is plastic material,such as thermoplastic polyurethane, silica gel,acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer, or the like. The weight ratioof the photochromic material to the molding material preferably rangesfrom 1:200 to 1:2000.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the third preferred embodiment of a golfclub according to this invention is shown to include a golf club shaft1′ and a photochromic golf club head 2′ connected to the golf club shaft1′. The photochromic golf club head 2′ includes a head body 21′ having aplurality of photochromic portions 22′ that include the photochromicblend. Alternatively, the photochromic blend can be applied on theentire head body 21′ to form a photochromic coating layer covering theentire head body 21′.

Referring to FIG. 6, the fourth preferred embodiment of a golf clubaccording to this invention is shown to be similar to the thirdpreferred embodiment except that the photochromic blend includes amolding material and the photochromic material, and that thephotochromic portion 22′ is a preform covered on the head body 21′.Specifically, the head body 21′ is composed of two component parts,namely, a main body 211′ and a top cover 212′. The perform is formed asthe top cover 212′.

While the present invention has been described in connection with whatare considered the most practical and preferred embodiments, it isunderstood that this invention is not limited to the disclosedembodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements includedwithin the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as toencompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.

1. A photochromic golf club shaft, comprising: a shaft body; and aphotochromic portion provided on said shaft body, and including aphotochromic blend.
 2. The photochromic golf club shaft as claimed inclaim 1, wherein said photochromic blend includes a coating material anda photochromic material, said photochromic portion being a coating layerapplied on said shaft body.
 3. The photochromic golf club shaft asclaimed in claim 1, wherein said photochromic blend includes a moldingmaterial and a photochromic material, and said photochromic portion is apreform sleeved on said shaft body.
 4. The photochromic golf club shaftas claimed in claim 2, wherein said coating material is clear lacquer,said photochromic material is a photochromic powder, and a weight ratioof said photochromic material to said coating material ranges from1:1900 to 1:2100.
 5. The photochromic golf club shaft as claimed inclaim 2, wherein said coating material is ink, said photochromicmaterial is a photochromic powder, and a weight ratio of saidphotochromic material to said coating material ranges from 1:4 to1:1000.
 6. The photochromic golf club shaft as claimed in claim 4,wherein said photochromic portion is formed by coating said photochromicblend on said shaft body.
 7. The photochromic golf club shaft as claimedin claim 5, wherein said photochromic portion is formed by printing saidphotochromic blend on said shaft body.
 8. The photochromic golf clubshaft as claimed in claim 3, wherein said molding material is selectedfrom the group consisting of thermoplastic polyurethane, silica gel, andacrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer, and said photochromicmaterial is a photochromic powder.
 9. The photochromic golf club shaftas claimed in claim 3, wherein a weight ratio of said photochromicmaterial to said molding material ranges from 1:200 to 1:2000.
 10. Aphotochromic golf club head, comprising: a head body having aphotochromic portion that includes a photochromic blend.
 11. Thephotochromic golf club head as claimed in claim 10, wherein saidphotochromic blend includes a coating material and a photochromicmaterial, said photochromic portion being a coating layer applied onsaid head body.
 12. The photochromic golf club head as claimed in claim10, wherein said photochromic blend includes a molding material and aphotochromic material, and said photochromic portion is a preformcovered on said head body.
 13. The photochromic golf club head asclaimed in claim 11, wherein said coating material is clear lacquer,said photochromic material is a photochromic powder, and a weight ratioof said photochromic material to said coating material ranges from1:1900 to 1:2100.
 14. The photochromic golf club head as claimed inclaim 11, wherein said coating material is ink, said photochromicmaterial is a photochromic powder, and a weight ratio of saidphotochromic material to said coating material ranges from 1:4 to1:1000.
 15. The photochromic golf club head as claimed in claim 13,wherein said photochromic portion is formed by coating said photochromicblend on said head body.
 16. The photochromic golf club head as claimedin claim 14, wherein said photochromic portion is formed by printingsaid photochromic blend on said head body.
 17. The photochromic golfclub head as claimed in claim 12, wherein said molding material isselected from the group consisting of thermoplastic polyurethane, silicagel, and acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer, and saidphotochromic material is a photochromic powder.
 18. The photochromicgolf club head as claimed in claim 12, wherein a weight ratio of saidphotochromic material to said molding material ranges from 1:200 to1:2000.
 19. The photochromic golf club head as claimed in claim 12,wherein said head body is composed of at least two component partsassembled together, said perform being formed as at least one of saidcomponent parts.
 20. A golf club, comprising: a shaft body; a head bodyconnected to said shaft body; and a photochromic portion provided on atleast one of said shaft body and said head body, and including aphotochromic blend.